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Sky Sox Win Opening Day Thriller 4-3

April 7, 2016 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Colorado Springs Sky Sox News Release


COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - Beginning the season on the road in Memphis, the Sky Sox were held in check for the first seven innings. But late rallies in the 8th and 9th innings gave the Sky Sox a 4-3 victory on Opening Day for the second straight season.

Neither team was able to do much offensively for the first five innings. Starters Deck McGuire (0-0, 1.69) and Zach Davies (0-0, 1.80) traded zeroes early and often.

Eric Young got the Sky Sox started off on the right foot, doubling off the right field wall to start the game. But the Sky Sox couldn't capitalize in the first. Davies responded with two strikeouts in the first for the Sky Sox.

In the third, the Redbirds looked to take the lead with runners on second and third with two outs. Anthony Garcia sent a line drive that looked to be headed to left field, but shortstop Orlando Arica, playing in his first Triple-A game, was able to leap and make the catch to end the frame.

After Davies got his eighth strikeout of the night t to end the fifth inning, the Sky Sox offense went to work in the sixth.

Eric Young led off with a walk. Arcia followed with his first Sky Sox hit to put runners on the corners with nobody out. The game's first run finally crossed the plate when Michael Reed grounded into a fielders choice to short, scoring Young from third. After reliever Justin Wright entered the game, the Redbirds got out of the sixth with just the one run scoring.

In the bottom of the sixth, manager Rick Sweet went to the bullpen after Jacob Wilson began the inning with a double. Austin Ross entered the game for his first appearance of the year. A couple batters later, Jonathan Rodriguez gave the Redbirds the lead with a 3-run homer to left field.

In the eighth, Reed got the Sky Sox started with a one out double of Juan Gonzalez. Andy Wilkins followed with a double of his own to score Reed. After a wild pitch advanced Wilkins to third, pinch-hitter Jake Elmore drove him home with a single to center to tie the game.

David Goforth pitched a scoreless inning to keep the game tied heading to the ninth.

In the ninth, Garin Cecchini, who entered the game in the sixth on a double switch, lined a triple to right field. Young, the next batter, chopped a ground ball to second and Cecchini slid home under the tag of catcher Mike Ohlman to give the Sky Sox the lead.

Goforth then retired the Redbirds in order to finish the night and earn his first victory of the season. Sam Tuivailala took the loss for Memphis.

The Sky Sox will look to make it 2-0 to start the season as Junior Guerra (NR) is set to face off with JC Sulbaran (NR). First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 pm MDT.



Pacific Coast League Stories from April 7, 2016


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